January is National Blood Donor Month. The Red Cross has recently declared a national blood crisis due to dangerously low supplies of available blood as a result of low donor turnout and the cancellation of blood drives in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. These conditions have led to the worst blood shortage in more than a decade.

Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and the Islip Town Board encourage all who are able, to consider kicking-off the new year with an act that could save lives, by scheduling a blood donation appointment ASAP.

• Visit https://www.nybc.org/ and schedule your appointment now.
• Look for blood drives near you on the Red Cross website: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive